Written Answers Thursday 13 October 2005

Scottish Executive

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price paid by Communities Scotland for housing plots was in each of the last five years, showing year-on-year percentage increases.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The average cost of land per house in projects grant funded by Communities Scotland in each of the last five years and the percentage increase/decrease was as follows:

  2000-01 Average price per plot = £2,984.

  2001-02 Average price per plot = £3,137, 5.1% increase over the previous year.

  2002-03 Average price per plot = £3,919, 24.9% increase over the previous year.

  2003-04 Average price per plot = £3,447, 12.0% decrease over the previous year.

  2004-05 Average price per plot = £4,411, 27.9% increase over the previous year.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Communities Scotland’s budget has been used for the purpose of purchasing land in each of the last five years, showing the amount in each case and broken down by category where appropriate.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  In each of the last five years the proportion of Communities Scotland Affordable Housing Budget which has been committed for land purchase costs is as follows:

  2000-01 Proportion of budget = 8.00%, representing a grant amount of £17.917 million.

  2001-02 Proportion of budget = 6.80%, representing a grant amount of £16.790 million.

  2002-03 Proportion of budget = 8.50%, representing a grant amount of £18.649 million.

  2003-04 Proportion of budget = 7.20%, representing a grant amount of £21.636 million.

  2004-05 Proportion of budget = 8.20%, representing a grant amount of £23.852 million.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of, and increase in, land prices of housing plots funded through the rural home ownership scheme was in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The average cost of land prices of housing plots funded through the rural home ownership scheme in each of the last five years was as follows:

  2000-01 Average land cost per plot = £12,935.

  2001-02 Average land cost per plot = £14,900, 15.2% increase over previous year.

  2002-03 Average land cost per plot = £16,387, 10.0% increase over previous year.

  2003-04 Average land cost per plot = £16,291, 0.6% decrease over previous year.

  2004-05 Average land cost per plot = £19,021, 16.8% increase over previous year."

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18938 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 October 2005, how many developments have been completed, and how many approved, since the reintroduction of GRO grant funding and how many low-cost homes have been provided by these schemes, broken down into low-cost home ownership and affordable rent.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  From 1 April 2002 the number of GRO grant schemes for low cost home ownership and the number of homes provide from these schemes are as follows:

  Completed Schemes:

  2002-03 = 20 schemes providing 794 homes.

  2003-04 = 12 schemes providing 284 homes.

  2004-05 = 25 schemes providing 718 homes.

  Approved Schemes:

  2002-03 = 20 schemes providing 475 homes.

  2003-04 = 24 schemes providing 782 homes.

  2004-05 = 16 schemes providing 353 homes.

  There were no approvals or completions for affordable rent under the GRO Grant for Market rent scheme since 1 April 2002.

Planning

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who, in cases where a planning application has been refused by a local authority and an appeal is subsequently made by the developer to the Executive, is responsible for the cost of the appeal and whether further fees are payable by the developer.

Malcolm Chisholm: There is no fee payable for parties submitting a planning appeal. Parties to an appeal are, however, normally expected to meet their own expenses.